wigs to wishes.org.uk

The “Dawn Hughes Wigs to Wishes Fund” has been set up to enable me to receive further treatment at an Oncology Clinic in Germany where they have had a high success rate in stopping the spread of Cancer in patients and giving them the best possible chance of remission. The Berkshire Cancer Centre have informed me that there is little chance of my Cancer going into remission with the treatment available in this country.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my website. I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself. I'm a wife and mother of 3 young children, Matthew 13, Ellie 10 and Freddie 6. I was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2001 at the age of 36. Following Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, I was in remission until a chance MRI scan in Feb 2005 for an unrelated problem, detected that the Cancer had returned. I was then diagnosed with Secondary Breast Cancer. The likely prognosis given in February was 18 months to 5 years. I then had to undergo aggressive Chemotherapy, but following the results of a recent bone scan, it was found that the Cancer is still spreading.
The treatment in Germany will cost thousands of pounds and for most people like myself, the opportunity for this is a dream. Many of my Family and Friends want to make this dream a reality and are making tremendous fund raising efforts, because without them, I would not be able to seek the treatment that I so obviously need and which is not being offered in this country.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

10% reduction of chemo dosage

Feet are looking much better and the toe infection seems to be subsiding. Onc has given go ahead to start the next chemo cycle but at a 10% reduction of the dose. I also mentioned that the Piriton was making me too tired and they have suggested a tablet which I had to pay a prescription charge for. Spoke with the chemo nurses and they think I should be okay to go without the antihistamine. They’ve put a note on my treatment sheet for the next Herceptin to ask the Onc whether I can stop using it? The chemo nurses said that they have had other patients on Herceptin who do not now take the antihistamine.

The antihistamine tablet kicked in when I got home around 5pm so I went to bed for 4 hours. Bit much really but I just couldn't help it! I still managed to have a normal nights sleep as well.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Chemo Postponed

Clinic appointment. Chemo has been postponed for another week due to the poor state of my feet. I also have an infection in my big toe for which I have been prescribed some antibiotics. If all is well by next week, I shall be back on the chemo and start the 3 weekly Herceptin. I’m a bit relieved the chemo has been postponed as I’m feeling so exhausted, hopefully this break will give me time to recover.

Sunday, December 18, 2005

Fatigue

I'm just so tired all the time and finding it hard to carry on with everything. I suppose it must be a combination of trying to do too much, especially as it is Christmas and carrying on with the treatments. Feet still hurting but the Pranic Healer has suggested soaking my feet in a bowl of salted water for an hour, which has helped. I’m now in the rest period during which time I’m not taking the chemo.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Informing the Leonardis plus Nationwide Presentation

Rang the Leonardis Klinik. Informed Dr D of the liver ultrasound scan results and mentioned the Xeloda dosage that has been prescribed by the BCC (Berkshire Cancer Clinic). It is a lot higher than was suggested by the German Oncologist. Dr D said that they don’t normally prescribe the Xeloda dosage higher than 2000 mg per day but I am currently on 4200 mg per day. He has suggested taking Alpha Lipoic Acid for the hand and foot syndrome, which has been used to improve nerve damage and reduce pain associated with that nerve damage. He also suggested vitamin B1-6 and Vitamin B12 once in a while. I don’t ever seem to get any advice like this from the BCC. (Maybe they should think about setting up a separate consultation with a nutritionist who could give you additional advice on what supplements may help with certain side effects. Why is it that this sort of information is readily available in Germany but no one even mentions anything here?)

I have discussed with Dr D that I shall be travelling back out to Germany in early February for blood tests and possible bone scan/PET scan.

Presentation of Reading Football shirt. Nationwide Building Society has been running a raffle to win a Reading Football shirt worn by Bobby Convey and signed by the Reading Football team. The winning ticket was drawn last week, and the lucky winner was presented with the shirt by Bobby Convey. All proceeds from the shirt have been donated to the Wigs to Wishes fund. I was presented with a large cheque by Bobby and the staff at Nationwide. The Evening Post were there to take a photo. I would like to thank everyone at Nationwide, especially Michelle

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

Sore feet and blisters!

Feet are really sore now and I have a large blister on my right foot little toe. Rang the Cancer Cclinic to let them know as I’m not seeing them until 21/12/05. They’ve suggested taking Pyridoxine (Vit B6), which I have already been taking but it does not seem to be having the desired effect.

Friday, December 09, 2005

This is a copy of the newspaper article reporting on Lauren Cummings hard work for me:

An 11-year-old Highdown schoolgirl organised a run for her classmates to raise money for a family friend with cancer. Lauren Cummings of Badgers Rise, Caversham organised a sponsored cross country run around Highdown School field. She is raising money for Dawn Hughes, 41, a mum of three from Buxton Avenue, Caversham, who has been fighting breast and bone cancer for four years. Dawn, who works at the BBC’s Monitoring Station in Caversham, is flying out to Leonardis Klinik in Bavaria for treatment, but the travel and medical care is expensive.

Family and friends have already completed a sponsored cycle ride from Reading to Portsmouth in October and now Lauren has decided to play her part. She said: “Dawn is friends with my mum and I’m good friends with her oldest girl. I wanted to help so I asked if I could raise some money at school and had to go to lots of meetings to get permission.”

Lauren has already raised £50 herself and persuaded some 50 classmates to join her. She has also been raising money with a ‘guess how many sweets are in the jar’ game.Mrs. Hughes said: “The whole Cummings family have been fantastic in organising a number of fundraising events. It is wonderful that Lauren, a girl of 11, has approached the school and done all this herself, and that she and her friends are all so keen on helping.”

Thanks Lauren. To see a picture of the children go to my Wigs to Wishes picture website.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Hand and Foot Syndrome

Have noticed that my feet are starting to hurt. They are looking really sore and red. I think that it must be the start of the Hand and Foot Syndrome, which is a common side effect of the Xeloda chemo. My hands seem to be okay other than the tips of my fingers are starting to go hard.

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Antihistamine is making me too drowsy

Clinic appointment – 3 weekly Herceptin will start on 21/12, also don’t need to come into clinic next week and can just go straight to the chemo ward which reduces the time I’m in the hospital. Again the anti-histamine has made me so drowsy. I need to ask for a lower dose or a change as it is Piriton, which is known to make you very sleepy.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Liver and Uterus Ultrasound

The ultrasound went okay and the consultant was very helpful with all the questions I was firing at him. Basically he says there is no change in the Liver when compared with the ultrasound taken in February. There is a fibroid in the uterus area but thinks that this will be left as it is not giving me any problems. I have to say that was a relief and it will also mean no extra chemo at this stage.